I have a chance to buy a 401 complete from carb to pan.the guy that owns it says that it has been sitting for at least 10 years.he was asking 900. but i got him down to 600. is it worth that? iwanted to put it in my 67 skylark. is the trans going to bolt up or do i need a different trans. what about motor mounts. anything else i am missing????????? thanx for your help later SCOTT:TU:
The 401 will require a different trans than what you've got, and you're going to have lots of other stuff to change as well. Are you sure you want to take that step backward by going with a pre-'67 engine? If you need more info, contact Joe: http://www.v8buick.com/member.php?u=4149 as he's done a similar swap. Devon
well im looking to do some thing different with this car its so boring to drive with the 300 small block. thought the 401 would be preety cool and different. thanx SCOTT
Go with a Buick 350! They are a direct swap for your 300 and make really good power with a few add ons! Good mpg even!
Well, it aint worth what he is asking....nails are getting more expensive, but not that much.....if it has been sitting for 10 years,,there is a good chance that it is locked up.... ck that before buying.... if it is it is worth a lot less... If I am remembering right, the 67 has the same frame as the 64-65-66... I have done the swap in the past... the torqey 401 will be better and tougher than the 300....but you will have to do some swapping of other stuff.... the rad [must be a 4 row in good shape] fan and fan shroud,,,the air cleaner,,,all the alt,ps,ac brackets, belts, exhaust manifolds from a 65 gs, motormounts from a 65gs and the frame attaching pad brackets and engine mounting plates from a 65-66 gs... then you will have to build an exhaust system of at least 2 1/4 in pipe with mufflers and hangers....you will need heavy duty shocks and springs to handel all the torque.... plus air lift air bags in the rear springs or wheel hop will be a problem... and you will have to swap the trans and rear cross member and mount.... the drive shaft will have to be shortened and welded solid because the factory 300 shaft is set in rubber and the increased torque will twist it out... This is a good swap... the 425 would be better, and just as easy... the nail heads are tough engines.... now with all that said... the nicest most power full engines that I have seen swaped into the early larks are the gn engines.... if done right they look factory and really run....
I think 67 was the first year for the new style engine 66 was last year for the nail valve engine. Mike D.
it would be much easier to swap a 350 400 430 455 there a direct bolt bbb can you say gs400 clone plus there alot cheaper to build fast and find parts for.
hey doc everything you said i expected. which is good what kind of trans bolts up to the 401? THANX AGAIN LATER SCOTT
everything you said i expected. which is good pfffft! a Nailhead ain't 'different'. install a Buick straight 8, that'll throw everybody for a loop. what kind of trans bolts up to the 401? you'd want to find an SP-400. which is basically a Switch Pitch TH-400. be careful of the year though. the later ones have the BOP housing and would bolt up to your 300.
I bought a 322 for 60$ on ebay. I stopped by the CTC auto ranch to see what they wanted for a complete nailhead. They told me 1000$ and up. For a junk yard nailhead? Come on. Nailheads are great motors. I have a 67 Skylark and I paid $200 for a 430 big block Buick motor. That will be cooler than a 300 but maybe not as cool as a 401.
Let me know if you go with the 401. I have the rear sump pan, frame pads & mounts and headers too. If interested PM me:TU: You can't do the swap with out these parts! I got other stuff like 2x4bbl manifold and so on. . . . . It will rock if you do that swap!:3gears:
